In this bonus episode, Steve chats to John Espirian about all things marketing, LinkedIn and personal branding for freelancers.
John joined Steve live in the Being Freelance community to answer your questions on how to build a personal brand around your name, make the most of the content you’re creating, and build quality connections on LinkedIn.
Big thanks to John, who was very generous with his knowledge, as always!
Read MoreSarah’s freelance life began back in 1999 after the arrival of her first child. Unsure how to be a mum or run a business, Sarah struggled and says it took her far too long to get to where she is now, mostly because she didn’t have the business skills she needed.
She chats to Steve about learning to find balance and put boundaries in place. Plus, she shares the story behind the book she’s written to help other freelancers survive without burning out.
Read MoreFrom part-time, on-the-side freelancer to founding an agency that employs over a dozen people, Ross has spent the last eight years building his reputation and his business.
“If you can come in with value,” says Ross, “you’re less intimidating. Add value before you ask for it.”
Read MoreAfter Marge took some time out to reflect on ten years being freelance, she discovered the power of choice. The choice to work with clients who have the same values. To take a month off every summer. To start a second business that fills a creative hole.
She chats to Steve about how she made those changes and what else she’s learned along the way, including how to adapt to the market, find a better work-life blend and keep the work coming in.
Read MoreWhen Steve started out, he had dreams of building a name for himself as an action sports photographer. But with little money to be made in his sport of choice, Steve soon turned to the food industry and began shooting for restaurants instead.
These days, he has a portfolio of work spanning both niches and he picks up marketing and design work on the side.
Read MoreRafal moved from Poland to the United States at 18 and landed a job as a developer. He progressed within the company all while freelancing on the side, until, eventually, he left to focus on his business and his personal brand full time.
He chats to Steve about finding clients, growing his email list, selling digital products and courses, figuring out what to say no to and focusing on what he loves to do.
Read MoreManaging a communications department for a small charity, Eman learnt a lot but the commute was a killer. Out of the house from 8am - 8pm, she was exhausted and missing her young son.
These days, freelancing, life for Eman looks very different. “I’m being the parent that I wanted to be,” she says. Listen to her talk about how she made it happen.
Read MoreWhen Christian set out freelance for the third time, he was determined to bring in his own clients rather than set up in the corner of an agency.
He chats to Steve about how he’s made that happen, what working at home with his wife (a fellow freelancer) is like, and why he spends his Fridays playing on tractors at the local nature reserve.
Read MoreLina began freelancing in college, where she founded a feminist communications agency with a friend, and she’s worked independently since then.
She chats to Steve about the speaking gigs that make her anxious for weeks, the time she nearly hit a wall from working too much, and the community she created for women and non-binaries within the creative industry.
Read MoreSkiing photographer Reuben graduated during the 2008 financial crash and he’s found his own way since then, learning as he went along, without a staff job or an apprenticeship.
He talks about managing the seasonality of his business and how he finds work, including networking, pitching, making a film and forming a production company with other freelancers.
Read MoreKingsley’s had a few different starts at being freelance but that hasn’t stopped him working for dream clients like Nike and the BBC.
He chats about finding those high profile clients, working from home, making time for his own work, and shares his personal motto: to give 100% on everything he’s working on and “double the outcome” each time he does something new.
Read MoreHelen says she always dreamed of living a portfolio lifestyle. She enjoys the variety.
These days, she’s found a niche coaching entrepreneurs to write authority-building books.
She chats to Steve about finding success with LinkedIn marketing and reflects on her experience of making the “classic freelancer mistake” of undercharging.
Read MoreAlongside his consultancy work, Paul produces a weekly podcast, runs an annual conference and hosts a Slack group. He talks to Steve about how each drives new business for him and how he manages his time with so much going on.
Paul also reflects on a difficult period of burnout that reminded him how crucial proper breaks are.
Read MoreNadieh’s first client was Google. After sharing a personal project online, Google got in touch to ask if she’d like to work with them. She said yes, because she couldn’t not, and went freelance from there.
She chats to Steve about what’s happened since, including building an online network, speaking at conferences and continuing to share her work and talk about her process.
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